Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Tech Forums > Technical Corner
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 08-15-2015, 09:02 AM   #1
roadglide
Senior Member
 
roadglide's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: nm
Posts: 1,833
New 5500 Onan RPM and load

The generator we used it on a 5 day boondock trip. It runs the 2 AC an refrigerator . The the AC wont cool enough and refrigerator was getting warmer all the lights are normal. Could the RPM on the 5500 be to low causing the generator not to turn fast enough to make the Amps needed?
__________________
2018 1 ton 4x4 c.c standard bed GMC Denali
Anderson ultimate hitch
2015 311 Impact Fusion toy hauler
2018 Milwaukee 8 FLRTU roadglide glide ultra
2018 800 Z force spot BUGGY.
500 watts of solar enough power for boon docking.
roadglide is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2015, 10:48 AM   #2
PARAPTOR
Site Team | Emeritus
 
PARAPTOR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Western PA
Posts: 2,732
Post

Have you tried you rig AC and Frig under similar outside temps using shore power. Have seen many posts lately questioning AC and/or Frig performance.
__________________
2013 RAPTOR 300MP w/Rear Patio Deck NO Folding Side Ladder
2013 Silverado 3500HD LTZ CC LB 4X4 DRW
Duramax 6.6L Turbo Diesel; Allison Trans
Reese 20K; Carlisle Radial Trail RH/HD; TPMS (12 Tires)

Veteran


PSU (GO LIONS)
PARAPTOR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2015, 11:18 AM   #3
Javi
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,456
Thing about gen sets is they shed power as the temps rise; approx. 1% for every 10 degrees above 70`F... and then they lose about 3.5% for every 1000 foot above sea level..

That gen set is what? 45 amps max at sea level and 70`F...
__________________
2015 Ford F350 DRW 6.7 Diesel XL
2020 Avalanche 313 RS
Javi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2015, 11:24 AM   #4
SteveC7010
Senior Member
 
SteveC7010's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Northville NY in the Adirondacks
Posts: 2,128
Quote:
Originally Posted by roadglide View Post
The generator we used it on a 5 day boondock trip. It runs the 2 AC an refrigerator . The the AC wont cool enough and refrigerator was getting warmer all the lights are normal. Could the RPM on the 5500 be to low causing the generator not to turn fast enough to make the Amps needed?
If your lights are all LED (most of the newer rigs seem to be), they're 12vdc and don't care about fluctuations in 110/220 vac voltage. Most LED's will work from 4vdc up to 24 or even 32vdc. Not a good indicator of what's going on over on the 110/220vac side of the rig.

My Honda generator senses load and ramps up the RPMs accordingly. I don't know if your Onan does the same. But, if you're running two A/C's plus the fridge on auto where it will run on 110 if available, you're pulling quite a load. If the Onan is at idle, it almost certainly won't produce enough voltage or current and the appliances will behave as you indicated. It needs to run at a high enough RPM to keep up with your needs.

Edit to add: We boondock regularly for two weeks at a time so we use propane as much as possible to conserve battery life and lower the load on the generator when we do run it. The fridge stays on gas regardless of electric source as does the water heater. In the old days, these dual energy fridges ran a lot better and colder on gas anyway. I think they still do, but others may disagree. I'm used to operating this way and plan for the propane consumption. If you're having issues with generator output when you're running two air conditioners, moving the fridge and water heater over to gas only is a good measure.
__________________

'11 Cougar 326MKS loaded with mods
'12 Ford F250 SuperCab 6.7 PowerStroke Diesel
Amateur Radio: KD2IAT (146.520) GMRS: WQPG808 (462.675 TPL 141.3)
SteveC7010 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2015, 01:20 PM   #5
roadglide
Senior Member
 
roadglide's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: nm
Posts: 1,833
Thank you everything adds up 100 degree 2 AC ele water heater ,refrigerator 55 amp inventor 4500 ft elevation. The 5500 I though would be 55 amps, The Gen really never loaded up, anyway Ill change my way of boondocking. I was in Co last month elevation around 11000 ft and used my Gen it didn't run that good at first but leveled out . My neighbor had a new Keystone with the same Gen and his would load up and quit. My question is are they made to run at a high elevation both of us had the elevation set at Max 5000 ft?
__________________
2018 1 ton 4x4 c.c standard bed GMC Denali
Anderson ultimate hitch
2015 311 Impact Fusion toy hauler
2018 Milwaukee 8 FLRTU roadglide glide ultra
2018 800 Z force spot BUGGY.
500 watts of solar enough power for boon docking.
roadglide is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2015, 01:59 PM   #6
Javi
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,456
https://www.cumminsonan.com/www/pdf/...ets/a-1430.pdf

Read 2.5 & 2.6 of this manual... https://www.cumminsonan.com/www/pdf/...s/981-0173.pdf


Way back in '83 I was the Onan Warranty guy in Waco, but the motors and operations have changed a bunch in the last 30+ years...
__________________
2015 Ford F350 DRW 6.7 Diesel XL
2020 Avalanche 313 RS
Javi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2015, 05:47 AM   #7
tank45
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 43
I run twin Smarter Tools generators (with Yamaha MZ80 motors) in parallel and camp at greatly varying altitudes... usually between 4000ft and 10000ft. I bought two extra carb jets for mine. The generators came with 1000 meter jets, so I bought 2k and 3k jets and just switch them out before leaving home. I can't tell you definitively that the jets make a difference but I used to fly single engine airplanes and leaning the engine at altitude was a must to get ideal performance and not foul plugs (among other things). Consider re-jetting your carbs and see if it helps.
__________________
2013 Avalanche 345TG
2015 Ram 3500 SRW CTD/Aisin
tank45 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2015, 09:44 AM   #8
dcg9381
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Texarkana, TX
Posts: 1,052
Quote:
Originally Posted by roadglide View Post
Could the RPM on the 5500 be to low causing the generator not to turn fast enough to make the Amps needed?
Do you hear it slow down? These generators need to run at constant RPM to produce the 120 Hz that is necessary for outlet operation. You may hear it get louder (under load) - but the RPM should remain the same.

Many volt meters have a HZ reading. If you've got one, you can actually plug it into the wall socket and calculate RPM on your generator.

5500 watts = 120V at 45 amps. It should power 2 ACs easily. If there is any question, try switching the fridge to gas and turn the electric water heater off.

High altitudes may require mixture adjustment, but most Onans have a dial adjuster.
dcg9381 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2015, 08:38 PM   #9
roadglide
Senior Member
 
roadglide's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: nm
Posts: 1,833
Yes I have a fluke trans cat meter. The generator did grunt ounce when loading up there isn't much difference loaded or unloaded. The water heater was off. I will plug it in to a wall and see what its putting out.
__________________
2018 1 ton 4x4 c.c standard bed GMC Denali
Anderson ultimate hitch
2015 311 Impact Fusion toy hauler
2018 Milwaukee 8 FLRTU roadglide glide ultra
2018 800 Z force spot BUGGY.
500 watts of solar enough power for boon docking.
roadglide is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 10:27 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.